Archive for August, 2006
Numark “Milestones” honours innovators
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Numark, Alesis, and Akai Professional, the world’s leading manufacturers of audio equipment, studio electronics and professional DJ equipment, and the driving force behind the high-tech musical revolution, will honor the trailblazers of musical innovation with Milestones, a gala event that will feature an eclectic lineup of musicians, DJs, recording engineers and music producers.
“CUMBERLAND, R.I.–June 8, 2006–Numark, Alesis and Akai Professional, the world’s leading manufacturers of audio equipment, studio electronics and professional DJ equipment, and the driving force behind the high-tech musical revolution, will honor the trailblazers of musical innovation with Milestones, a gala event that will feature an eclectic lineup of musicians, DJs, recording engineers and music producers.
In partnership with Boston’s Berklee College of Music, Numark, Alesis and Akai Professional will stage the event at the Berklee Performance Center at 7:30 PM, Friday, September 22, 2006. Highlights will include A-list musical performers and proceeds will fund the Numark, Alesis and Akai Professional scholarships for the Berklee College of Music City Music Program.
The gala honorees include some of the key innovators in musical production and performance. Most notably the evening will pay tribute to:
Musical Performance & Audio Engineering
• Bruce Swedien, for Recording/Engineering Innovation, for his work with Michael Jackson, Dinah Washington, Mick Jagger, Muddy Waters and Nat King Cole
• Al Kooper, founder of Blood, Sweat & Tears and organist for Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, B.B. King and Jimi Hendrix, for Performance/Production Innovation
• Michael Brecker, probably the most respected and imitated jazz saxophonist of the post-Coltrane era. As of 2005, he has won 11 Grammys as both performer and composer
DJ/Turntablism
• Grand Wizard Theodore, the inventor of scratching and needle dropping, a standard in DJ technique
• GrandMixer DXT, the first to fuse hip-hop and jazz
• Jazzy Jay, the first to bring hip-hop to radio airwaves
Additional honorees will include Run-DMC founder DJ Jam Master J; Hip-hop producer Marley Marl; DJ Premier, producer of Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt; and DJ Jazzy Joyce.
In the spirit of musical innovation, the event also will feature live performances from artists including both the founders of hip-hop itself and the breakthrough new talent of today. The performances will also include a special guest appearance by the Berklee Turntablism Ensemble.
“We are proud to present such an outstanding group of musicians at Berklee, where so many groundbreaking producers and performers launch their careers,” said Gregg Stein, worldwide director of marketing for Numark, Alesis and Akai Professional. “These legends have created a platform by which musical innovation can continue to flourish. We’re honored that our products are behind these artists as well as the next generation of musical innovators.”
Milestones is sponsored in part by American Idol Underground, Berklee College of Music, DJ Times, Electronic Musician, EQ, Future Music, Keyboard, Music and Sound Retailer, Remix, Sam Ash Music, Scratch, Sweetwater and Testa Communications.
Numark, Alesis, and Akai Professional will donate proceeds from the Milestones event to endow scholarships that will be awarded annually to promising students hoping to pursue their studies through the Berklee City Music Program, a five-week tutorial and mentoring program that gives urban teens from Greater Boston access to music education at no cost to their them or their families. Since 1991, the Berklee City Music Program has been a life-changing experience for nearly 500 economically disadvantaged young people.
Tickets will go on sale June 15, 2006 and are available through Ticketmaster at 617-931-2000 or on the web at www.milestones2006.com. “
Make sure your there. Get your tickets here.
Comments(2)ieMERG not defending title in ‘06 DMC
With the 2006 World DMC Finals only a month away, two time World DMC champion ieMERG has announced he will not be back to defend his title in 2006.
“After 5 solo world titles and 10 national titles, my personal legacy in this realm feels complete. (and BTW, It’s a nice round number to leave off at. -George Carlin)”
- ieMERG states in his myspace blog.
ieMERG stepping down means that Phel will now be defending the crown at Hammersmith Palais in only a couple of weeks time.
Keep yourself posted with all the latest news via the 2006 World DMC website
Spinoff ‘05 Final - ie.merg V illtrax
In anticipation of the upcoming turntablist extraviganza - SPINOFF ‘06. I thought I would post some video highlights from 2005.
The competition was tight at the finals of last years Guitar Center SPINOFF. Illtrax won the competitors field and went on to battle the two time world DMC champion ie.merg for the spinoff ‘05 title. ie.merg held the title for the third year running winning $5,000 cold hard cash. Check out the footage below:
UPDATE: The above info has been updated as it was previously incorrect - due to someone passing me the wrong info. I apologize.
Guitar Center Spinoff ‘06
GUITAR CENTER’S SPIN OFF GRAND FINALS TO FEATURE STONES THROW FAMILY
(Madlib, J.Rocc, Peanut Butter Wolf, Percee P, Med, A-Trak)
Eighth Annual DJ Competition Brings Nation’s Top Battle DJs to the Forefront
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. (July 31, 2006) - Guitar Center today announced the lineup for the 2006 Spin Off grand finals competition taking place Sept. 1 at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall. The event will feature Stones Throw Records’ roster of MCs and DJs including Madlib, J.Rocc, Peanut Butter Wolf, Percee P, Med, A-Trak and others plus an exclusive J DILLA tribute.
“With the Stones Throw family sharing the stage with the nation’s six best undiscovered battle DJs in San Francisco, this year’s Spin Off grand finals will celebrate hip-hop and showcase its artistic roots,” said Kyle Rogers, marketing manager for Guitar Center. “The opportunity these six DJs have to share the stage with groundbreaking artists and win massive prizing helps them in the pursuit of establishing themselves firmly in the turntablist world.
“Focusing on the artistic and underground aspects of the DJ community, this year’s Spin Off grand finals promises to be the most authentic in the event’s history. Headlining the bill will be Madlib, arguably one of the most creative producers in the industry, bringing his multifaceted, jazz-influenced beats to the hip-hop scene. Also performing will be Peanut Butter Wolf, founder of Stones Throw Records, and A-Trak, Kanye West’s current DJ, who is well known for breaking technical boundaries and winning DJ championships across the world. Finally, J.Rocc, of the Beat Junkies fame, will showcase his innate knowledge of rhythmic transitions to the stage. Getting the night started will be world DJ battle champions ie.Merg_ and Craze performing a special one-time collaboration with the experimental Machine Drum. The six finalists will be judged by a powerhouse panel, including A-Trak, ie.Merge_, Craze, Peanut Butter Wolf, J.Rocc, Dan “the Automator” and Kid Koala.
As a bonus at the grand finals, legendary street artist Shepard Fairey will perform a live art installation on stage during the Stones Throw family performance. The completed artwork will be then be auctioned off to benefit a charity yet to be determined.
Beginning Aug. 1, tickets will be available for purchase for $12 via www.tickets.com, www.virtuous.com and through The Great American Hall Box Office.
The 2006 Spin Off champion will take home a 2006 Scion xB, a trip to the Nike iD studios and a session with a Nike laser designer, a $2,500 Obey shopping spree and a one-of-a-kind “Obey the Champ” Technics SL-1200MK5 turntable.
For this event Guitar Center has partnered with some of the nation’s leading brands, including Toyota Scion, Technics, Rane, Nike, Stones Throw Records, Obey, Napster, B-52 Professional, SOBE and Scratch and XXL magazines.
About Stones Throw Records
Peanut Butter Wolf, founder and president of Stones Throw, became popular as a DJ in the Bay Area in the 1990s. He has since transformed into an artist in his own right and the head of one of the most influential indie hip-hop labels in the country. By remaining true to his musical philosophy, Wolf has introduced musicians such as Madlib into the hip-hop scene and has brought some of the genre’s most respected artists to the label such as the late J. Dilla and MF Doom, creating a varied catalogue that includes new hip-hop, undiscovered gems of soul and inspiring niche and cult projects. His efforts add up to a recording company that transcends a brand and takes on surprising new directions with every release. For more info, visit www.stonesthrow.com.
About Guitar Center
Guitar Center is the leading United States retailer of guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments, keyboards and pro-audio and recording equipment. Our retail store subsidiary presently operates 185 Guitar Center stores across the United States. In addition, our Music & Arts division operates 91 stores specializing in band instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students. We are also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician’s Friend, Inc., and its catalog and web site, www.musiciansfriend.com. More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company’s web site at www.guitarcenter.com.
If you want to buy tickets click here
For more info check out the Guitar Center / Spinoff website
2006 Australian DMC Results
The Australian DMC DJ Championship finals were held last Saturday 12th of August at Hi Fi bar. The heat was on and competition strong as the competitors battled it out for the Australian title and a trip to London to compete for the World title.
The results were as follows:
1st: Perplex
2nd: Snair
3rd: G-Smooth
All three of the top place holders performed excellent sets. The judges would have had a very difficult job in deciding the winner but Perplex proved to be the better tablist (I would be interested to see the score breakdown). Congratulations Perplex and good luck at the Worlds.
Props to G-Smooth who had the crowd bouncin with a bangin’ set. He arguably deserved second (if not first) place. Watch out for this guy - won’t be too long till he will be sent to the worlds - he got skillzz.
How to beat juggle (Shortee 101)
A basic introduction of how to beat juggle taken from DJ Shortees DJ 101.
A couple more tips that weren’t mentioned in this clip: Make sure the records are the same tempo / pitch level and notice the black markers to indicate the start of the beat.
Shortee has produced a whole series of How to DJ DVD’s. For more info and to order the full DVD check out How2DJ.com.
More info and how to’s coming soon. May be some Qbert Do it Yourself!
DMC WORLD DJ Championships 2006
Got the skills to pay the bills….
Who will take out the Technics DMC World DJ championship titles this year? Will ie.MERG manage to hold his world title for another year to go down in the history books next to DJ Craze? Can C2C hold their team title for the third year running? Will Who can take out the Battle for World Supremecy?
Be sure to check out the 2006 World DMC site. While your there - have a look in the archives for photos, audio and video from the previous world championships.
